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Early life microbial exposure can suppress allergies by promoting a balance among T cell subsets

Currently, an estimated 20% of the population worldwide suffers from an allergic disorder. Rates of allergies and asthma are disproportionately increased among children in industrialized countries compared to those in developing ones. The “hygiene hypothesis” suggests that these high rates of asthma are attributed to decreased exposure to microbes during early life.

Children are born with immune systems that are skewed towards being pro-allergic, which often times leads to them developing allergies and asthma. This allergic disposition is due to a skewing towards allergy-inducing T cells called TH2 cells. These TH2 cells can be suppressed or balanced out by other T cell subsets such as TH1 or regulatory T cells (Treg) that are stimulated by microbes. Although it is not possible to permanently alter the balance between these specialized T cell subsets (TH1, TH2, and Tregs) during adult life following the onset of asthma, it may be possible to do so during early life.

Unlike adult T cells, neonatal T cells exhibit a great deal of plasticity, and upon stimulation can become asthma-suppressing Tregs. Our laboratory has developed mice that express fluorescent reporters to track and identify TH1, TH2, and Tregs throughout development. I am currently interested in developing a microbe-derived vaccine or probiotic that will be administered during childhood to decrease the skewing towards a TH2 response and promote a balance among TH1, TH2, and Treg cells for the prevention of asthma.